Evaluation and application of microsatellites for population identification of Fraser River chinook salmon

• Published in: Fishery bulletin (Washington, D.C.) Vol. 101; no. 2; p. 243
• Main Authors: Beacham, Terry D, Candy, John R, Supernault, K. Janine, Wetklo, Michael, Deagle, Bruce, Labaree, Karen, Irvine, James R, Miller, Kristina M, Nelson, R. John, Withler, Ruth E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: National Marine Fisheries Service 01-04-2003
• Subjects: Artificial satellites; Chinook salmon; Environmental aspects; Fish populations; Measurement; Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; Tracking; British Columbia; Canada, British Columbia, Fraser R; Canada, British Columbia, North Thompson R; Canada, British Columbia, Chilcotin R; Canada, British Columbia, Nicola R
• ISSN: 0090-0656; 1937-4518

Management for conservation of genetic diversity in chinook salmon within the Fraser River drainage, British Columbia, Canada, requires knowledge of genetic variation among populations in addition to population-specific information on fisheries. Variation at 13 microsatellite loci was surveyed in about 7400 chinook salmon taken from 50 locations in the drainage. This variation was evaluated to determine its utility for identifying specific stocks. The accuracy of stock composition estimates improves with an increasing number of loci used, but accuracy is not gained by addition of loci beyond eight. Identification of individuals to specific populations was most successful for the lower Fraser River and lower and North Thompson River populations. Salmon from the Chilcotin and Nicola Rivers were major contributors to the early commercial fishery, comprising about half the net fishery samples before mid-April. Mid Fraser River populations made up at least 30% of the catch in April through late May. By late May and into June, upper Fraser River populations were the main contributors to the fishery. Microsatellite variation enables accurate estimation of population-specific contributions to river fisheries.